How to Make a Strapless Prom Dress

Making your own prom dress can save money and allow you to create a one-of-a-kind look for a very special night. You can search online or at your local fabric store for patterns and fabric choices. It can be difficult to make your own dress, so follow the pattern closely if you are a novice seamstress.

Skill level:

Challenging

Other People Are Reading

Things you need

Fabric

Interfacing

Boning

Zipper

Trim

Pins

Scissors

Thread

Needle

Sewing machine

Show MoreHide

Instructions

1

Gather all the pattern pieces you need for your dress. Lay the pieces over your fabric and pin the pieces down with small pins. Cut out the fabric pieces. You may have to cut more than one of a particular pattern piece, and you may have to cut out the same pieces out of the lining fabric and interfacing.

2

Follow the pattern instructions that came with your dress pattern. If you made your own pattern pieces, begin by sewing or fusing the interfacing to the wrong side of the bodice pieces.

3

Sew the darts in the bodice pieces. Sew any separate bodice pieces together. You may have to sew the bodice front, sides and back together. Leave the back seam open; you sew this seam when you put in the zipper.

4

Sew boning into the seams on the inside of your bodice. Boning helps keep your strapless dress from slipping and it provides more structure to the bodice.

5

Sew the bodice lining in the same manner as the bodice, without interfacing and boning. With right sides together, sew the bodice lining to the bodice. Turn the bodice inside out and press the seams.

6

Sew the skirt sections together, leaving part of the back seam open for the zipper. Sew the skirt lining in the same manner. With the right sides together, sew the lining to the skirt at the waist. Turn the skirt inside out and press the seam.

7

Sew the skirt to the bodice with right sides together. Turn the bodice up and press the seam.

8

Put in the zipper by sewing one side at a time. The bottom of the zipper should be a few inches below the waist seam of the skirt. Close the zipper.

9

Hem your dress. You may also choose to finish the edge with a rolled hem setting on a serger.

10

Apply any trim such as beads or sequins to your dress by hand.

Tips and warnings

If you are using your own pattern, make a mock-up dress to check the fitting.

Check any patterns for correct sizing. You may need to alter the dress after completing the pattern's steps.